Brown County Habitat for Humanity
Work Site Safety Plan/ Checklist
Safety Coordinator: (Primary) Mark Dauer (Cell) 276-2054
(Secondary) Sarah Rotering (Cell) 217-9964
General Safety:
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Speak up- if something looks unsafe it probably is. An observer can spot danger quicker than a worker.
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Don’t lift beyond your strength. Get a partner. Remember to bend your knees. Lift with your back straight.
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Keep an eye on your load as you move and turn so as not to whack someone with a board.
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Do not run when carrying tools or materials.
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Know where water & the first aid kit are located.
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Tell the site supervisor immediately in the event of an injury, and complete an Accident Report.
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Think & concentrate on your task.
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If you are uncertain about how to do a task, or how to operate a power tool, ask your Crew Leader.
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Youth Participation
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No one under the age of 16 is allowed on the construction site while construction is going on.
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No one under the age of 18 should be allowed to do any ultra-hazardous activities, which includes the use of power tools, roofing or working from a height of six feet or more.
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Security & Housekeeping:
Many accidents can be avoided by proper on-site housekeeping. Following are some recommendations:
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Have access to a telephone.
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Have an adequate supply of fire extinguishers accessible to all.
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Do not store flammable or combustible materials inside the building.
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Arrange deliveries to minimize value of materials on job site.
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Keep the area around the building clear of debris.
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Keep the interior of the building, including stairs, halls, and open floor areas, free of debris.
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Remove nails from scrap lumber as soon as practical.
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Keep all electrical cords free of entanglement with loose materials and in good repair.
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Wipe up spilled liquids on areas that may cause workers to slip.
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Build protective barriers around openings on the site or in the building that may cause falls.
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When dropping materials to the ground, barricade the drop area.
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Stack unused lumber and building materials neatly so as to reduce the chance of tripping and to assist in accounting for materials.
Worker Safety Equipment:
The affiliate will make basic safety equipment available to every volunteer such as hard hats, safety glasses, dust masks, ear plugs, etc., as needed.
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Have portable water at the site.
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Personnel working during framing and roofing operations should wear head protection as the possibility exists for injuries.
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Wear ear protection to reduce the noise levels or duration of exposure to loud sounds.
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Eye and face protection shall be required when operations present potential eye or face damage.
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Hammering or the use of power tools has the potential to produce projectiles which could cause eye injuries.
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When persons are exposed to harmful respiratory substances, respiratory protective devices must be used.
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Clothing should be loose enough to permit easy bending but not loose enough to get caught in moving tools.
Hand and Power Tools:
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Wear safety glasses when operating power tools and nailing.
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Wear hearing protection when operating saws.
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Never hold the work in your hands. Place the work on a firm surface.
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Guards on saws must be in place & operating. Tools must be in safe condition. Keep blades sharp. Make sure wooden handles do not have splinters and cracks.
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Select the correct tool for your work. Carry only those tools you need.
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Regularly inspect tools for broken or missing pieces. Inspect cords for frayed wires or damaged insulation.
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Use grounded plugs on tools appropriately.
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Use tools for their intended purpose.
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If unfamiliar with a tool’s use, ask for assistance and take time to practice using the tool.
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Do not operate tools without approval or supervision. Do not operate a tool if you have not been trained to use it.
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Do not over exert yourself or the tool; this can lead to slips and strains.
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Place yourself in a good body position- most hand tool accidents result from being struck by the tool or flying chips.
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Disconnect power source before moving the tool, making adjustments, or changing bits or blades.
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Do not use the cord to lift or lower the tool.
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Do not fashion extension cords with staples, nails, or suspended by wire.
Ladders:
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Use ladders for the purposes for which they were designed. Do not use ladders for skids, braces, or work benches.
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Provide a stairway or ladder for any point of access where there is a break in elevation of 19 inches or more.
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Make sure ladder size meets job demands.
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Do not use step ladders as straight ladders, always open all four feet and lock spreaders in place on a step ladder and place in a level condition.
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Do not place tools or materials on steps.
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Use proper angles when using straight and extension ladders. When using a non-self-supporting ladder use the “four-to-one” rule: for every four feet of height, move the bottom of the ladder one foot from the wall.
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Top extension ladders must extend at least three feet beyond the supporting object when used as an access to an elevated work area.
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Before climbing extension ladders make sure latches are properly engaged.
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Extension ladders must be overlapped a minimum of three rungs.
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Keep body near the middle of the ladder. Avoid leaning off the edge of a ladder. Move the ladder frequently so as not tempted to lean too far.
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Do not step on the top rung of platform on a step ladder.
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Do not carry anything that will prevent holding on with both hands while ascending or descending the ladder. Use a tool belt or a tool bag to lift tools.
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Only one person on a ladder at a time.
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If it becomes necessary to place a ladder in or over a doorway, barricade the door.
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Do not use metal ladders near an electrical exposure.
Scaffolding:
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Inspect all scaffolding before starting work to determine if safety features are in place and construction is sound.
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Ensure that the footing and anchorage for scaffolds are sound. Scaffold frames should be erected level and plumb and on a firm base.
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Never change or remove scaffold members unless authorized. Do not alter scaffolding members or use make-shift moorings. Have a ‘competent person’ (site supervisor) review any adjustments.
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Know safe working loads or scaffolds and work within these limits.
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Do not allow tools, materials, and debris to accumulate on scaffold.
Rough-In Carpentry:
Observe all rules and precautions specified under general, power tools and ladders.
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Remove nails from discarded limber as soon as practical.
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Always wear a hard hat during the framing stage. Watch for materials falling from above.
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Use caution when walking on floor joists. Watch your footing.
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Cover stair openings as soon as sub-floor is installed with suitable materials screwed to the sub-floor with deck screws.
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Install a stair, ladder or ramp to provide access for personnel to any break in elevation over 19”.
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Stairway with 4 or more risers or which rise more than 30” must include a handrail at 36” high from the plane of the horizontal surface.
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Take precautions when climbing onto or off of the roof. This is when many roof related falls occur.
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Do not step backwards on a roof. Every year, experienced roofers fall off the roof by stepping backwards off of the edge.
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When roofing, wear shoes with soft soles with some tread left.
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Loose materials and sawdust should be removed frequently from the roof surfaces.
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When standing up walls, make sure there are enough people to hold up the wall, and have bracing ready so it can be fastened as soon as possible.
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Make sure the wall is fully supported until the bracing is up.
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Do not allow personnel to work beneath areas being roofed.
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Never work on a roof alone.
Siding:
Observe all rules and precautions specified under general, power tools and ladders.
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Move materials close to the work area to minimize carrying distances.
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Remove nails from scrap- discard properly.
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Use proper hand tools.
Insulation and Drywall:
Observe all rules and precautions specified under general, tools and ladders.
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Utility knives are very sharp- keep your hands out of the path of the blades. Always retract the blade or install guard when not in immediate use.
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Fiberglass particles can be particularly harmful. When handling insulation, wear sturdy, loose, long sleeved clothing, gloves and googles (even glasses are inadequate protection), face mast, a respirator and a hat.
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If particles get on your skin, do not scratch. Shower as soon as possible.
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Drywall is very heavy. Stack drywall materials so that they are stable and secure. Do not ever pull a stack away from the wall as many bones have been broken by shifting stacks.
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Safety glasses and masks help prevent drywall dust from getting in your eyes and lungs, especially when working on the celling
Paint, Floor, & Interior Trim:
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Ensure ladders are in good condition.
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Maintain good housekeeping in the work area.
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Wear respiratory protection when sanding and painting as appropriate.
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Be aware of others working in the vicinity. You don’t want to miss your mark and strike someone working in the adjacent area.
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Place ladders on solid footing and don’t leave any tools or paint on top of ladders.
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Don’t cross hands to stabilize material when using a miter saw. Have someone else hold it for you.
Landscaping:
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Use proper tools for the job.
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Do not over lift- place supplies as close to the work area as possible, get help if needed.
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Contact electric, gas, and phone companies for the location of cables prior to digging.